A modern body shop flaunts a high degree of automation. Robots and their associates rule the place. Working unrelentingly, they lift and arrange panels, mount them on fixtures, wait for them to be clamped down, and then weld them together to make an assembly. It is a process that looks both artistic and scary with the associated fireworks and resulting heat. Seemingly difficult to follow as various bits add to make the Body-In-White (B-I-W) at the end of the line, a close look reveals that sheet metal clamping solutions play a crucial role. 

Explains Hitesh R Panchal, director of Mumbai-based Nexus Penumatics, "Utmost care has to be taken in the process of assembling the car body so that the outer finish of the component is not damaged. It is therefore vital that every process is handled carefully and using the right clamping solutions". 

Nexus Pneumatics is a venture of Steel-Smith (India) and represents the Univer Group of Italy in India. Having a 4000 sq.ft facility at Vasai on the outskirts of Mumbai, the company offers a wide range of automotive sheet metal clamping solutions and pneumatic as well as electric automation products from Univer group, like pneumatic power clamps, pneumatic locating pin cylinders, pneumatic power pivots, pneumatic under body clamps, pneumatic grippers, electrical power clamps, electrical locating pin cylinders, electrical power pivots, electrical under body clamps and electrical grippers. 

Some of the Univer Group products are assembled from knocked down kits sourced from Italy. Some have an amount of local content. States Hitesh, as he watches an operation in progress, "It is essential that we aim at localising these products in the near future. We have successfully assembled a range of ISO cylinders, valves and other accessories in India with Univer components. This gives us an edge over our competitors." 

Pointing at the pneumatic cylinders and grippers arranged in one corner of his office, Hitesh adds that the automotive range of Univer-Group is specially designed for B-I-W. clamping. Emphasising that Univer's (Automotive Division) product portfolio offers almost everything required in the industry for the top-of-the-line automation solutions, Hitesh Panchal explains, "Today an entire body shop is handled by robots and other automated solutions to ensure the highest level of quality and consistency in components. The concept of automotive clamping plays a vital role in the process. Clampings fitted on the tooling/fixtures of the assembly line, welding stations, hemming stations, etc., present the manufacturer the advantage of clamping and de-clamping the component by the push of a button and irrespective of its size or profile. The process involved is therefore executed smoothly, resulting in a assembly that is precise and consistent." 

A lot of consideration goes into the selecting of right clamping solutions. Considerations like quality of the products and their consistency, user friendliness of the product keeping in mind the operator, maintenance team, production engineers, etc, cost feasibility, design aspects of clamping products as per the tool design, compactness of the clamping products for spot welding and gun entry in critical work stations, clamping force required for clamping of the component, holding force required for clamping the component in place, self weight of the tool (the self weight of the clamping products matters a lot) and the downtime of the products during maintenance or trouble shooting also matter. 

Speaking about maintenance and trouble shooting, Hitesh emphasizes on the need for standardisation. "There is a need for standardisation in the Indian auto industry. Lack of standardisation often affects the ability to upgrade and optimise costs," he states. Drawing attention towards the need for a one-shop stop, Hitesh opines, "The moment a fault develops in the line it becomes difficult to diagnose as the manufacturer of each component is different. Each manufacturer has to be called for to diagnose the fault and finally replace the faulty component. Good deal of time and resources are wasted in the process, which is not desirable." 

Having chalked out an ambitious growth plan, which includes catering to the entire requirement of automation solutions in the B-I-W segment, Hitesh announces that the company has some well known names as its clients. "The complete body shop of the Linea at Fiat's Ranjangaon plant has Univer range of automotive products. We are also supplying to Tata for its world truck project." 

Admitting that the slow down in the auto industry has delayed opportunities, Hitesh Panchal puts it that his company is only eight months old. He modestly remarks that though he and his team have chalked out a growth strategy, it is the not the right time to speak about the same. "Another six months and we would have added to our range of offering and thus further penetrate the market, creating enough awareness in the process," he concludes.